Reverse Vending Machine Connectivity: The Case for Cellular

Every reverse vending machine in the UK deposit return scheme has to talk to the scheme's systems. Cellular is the connection that does that in every store without relying on the retailer, and here is how we specify the router, IoT SIM and antenna.

Reverse vending machine connectivity is the data link between a reverse vending machine (RVM) and the systems it reports to: the deposit scheme, the operator's back office and the manufacturer's service platform. An RVM is a machine that takes back empty drinks containers, identifies them and refunds the deposit.

At Millbeck, we have supplied cellular routers, IoT SIMs and antennas for unattended machines since 2008. This guide explains why we recommend cellular connectivity for reverse vending machines and how to specify it. It is written for engineers building or deploying RVMs for the UK scheme, which starts in October 2027.

What Does a Reverse Vending Machine Need From Its Connection?

A reverse vending machine needs a secure, always-available IP connection that carries four kinds of traffic: scheme transactions, product data, operator telemetry and remote support.

Scheme transactions: a record of every container accepted and every deposit refunded, sent to the deposit management organisation (DMO).
Product data: updates to the scheme's list of eligible containers, so the machine recognises new products as they reach the shelves.
Operator telemetry: bin-full and fill-level alerts, faults, jams and power events, sent to whoever empties and maintains the machine.
Remote support: software updates, diagnostics and remote access for the manufacturer or service partner.

The deposit management organisation is the body that runs the scheme, collects deposits from producers and pays return points. Exchange for Change is the DMO for the UK scheme. The cellular router does not need to understand any of this traffic. Its job is to give the machine's controller a stable, secured path to each destination, and to tell you when that path breaks.

RVM controllerContainer recognition, refunds, sensors

Ethernet

Cellular routerFirewall, VPN, failover, remote management

4G or 5G

Multi-network IoT SIMEE, O2, Three or Vodafone

Private APN or VPN

Scheme systems and back officeDMO, operator platform, manufacturer support

What the UK Deposit Return Scheme Means for RVM Connectivity

The UK deposit return scheme makes connectivity part of RVM certification: a machine that cannot link to the scheme's systems cannot be certified.

Exchange for Change tests each machine against 77 requirements, and these include connectivity with scheme systems and secure handling of transaction data. Exchange for Change published its first list of certified machines in October 2026 and says it will add to the list as more machines pass. Only a certified machine can connect to the scheme's list of eligible containers.

The scheme starts on 1 October 2027 in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with a 20p deposit on single-use PET, steel and aluminium drinks containers from 150 ml to 3 litres. Wales starts in October 2027 too, also run by Exchange for Change, and includes glass after a four-year transition period.

Why Does RVM Uptime Have a Direct Cost?

RVM uptime has a direct cost because the store hosting the machine earns a handling fee on every container it takes back. Exchange for Change has set the fees as follows.

Return Point Type	Handling Fee per Container
Reverse vending machine	5p for the first 225,000 containers a year, then 1.3p
Manual return point	3p

A machine that is offline may still accept containers or may stop, depending on the scheme's rules and the machine's software. In either case, an outage means delayed transaction data, refunds to reconcile and a store asking why the machine is not working. That makes connectivity a design decision, not an afterthought.

Check Offline Behaviour Early

Ask your software team how long the machine can trade without a connection, and what it does when that limit is reached. The answer sets how much redundancy the connectivity design needs.

How Does Reverse Vending Differ From Standard Vending?

Reverse vending uses the same connectivity building blocks as standard vending, but the money flows the other way and the data has to reach a third party: the deposit scheme.

We cover standard vending in our guide to reliable cellular connectivity for smart vending. The differences that matter when you specify an RVM are below.

Point	Standard Vending Machine	Reverse Vending Machine
Money	Takes card payments	Pays out deposit refunds
Who needs the data	The operator and the card processor	The deposit scheme, the operator and the store
Key telemetry	Stock levels and temperature	Bin fill levels, jams and container counts
Product data	Set by the operator	Set by the scheme and updated as new products launch
Typical location	Offices, transport hubs and public spaces	Supermarket lobbies, front-of-store areas and car parks
Approval	None beyond payment standards	Certification by the scheme before connection

Which Connection Should a Reverse Vending Machine Use?

A reverse vending machine should use its own cellular connection: a cellular router with a multi-network IoT SIM, owned and managed by the machine's operator. Cellular is the only practical option that needs nothing from the store except a power socket.

That matters because an RVM fleet spans many retailers, and every retailer runs its network differently. Putting a third-party machine on a store network usually means a security review, firewall changes and a named IT contact at each chain. When the store changes its network, the machine can drop offline without anyone telling the operator. A cellular connection gives the operator the same build, the same security and the same support model in every store.

Connection	Needs From the Store	Operator Control	Our View
Cellular router and multi-network IoT SIM	Power only	Full	Recommended for every RVM
Store wired network	A network port, cabling to the machine and IT approval	Shared with the retailer	Use only where a retailer requires it, with cellular kept as the backup
Store Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi access and IT approval	Low	Not recommended: store and guest Wi-Fi change without notice and often use sign-in pages
Dedicated fixed broadband	A new line to each site and cabling to the machine	Full	Rarely worth it: a separate line and installation for every store, tied to one position
LPWAN, such as LoRaWAN	Gateway coverage	Varies	Not suitable: too little bandwidth for software updates and product list downloads
Satellite	A clear view of the sky	Full	Not suitable for machines inside stores

LPWAN (low-power wide-area network) is a family of radio networks built to carry small amounts of sensor data over long distances on little power. LPWAN suits a bin-level sensor, not a machine that downloads software and product data.

Does Cellular Work Inside Large Stores?

Cellular works inside most stores when the SIM can use any UK network and the antenna sits outside the machine's metal cabinet. A multi-network IoT SIM connects to whichever of EE, O2, Three or Vodafone works best at that spot, so one store with weak coverage on one network does not need a different SIM. For the few positions where indoor signal is poor on every network, a remote antenna on a nearby wall or window fixes the problem without changing the machine.

What If a Retailer Insists on Using Its Own Network?

If a retailer insists on using its own network, we keep the cellular router in the machine and connect the store network to the router as a second connection. The router fails over between the two, so the machine keeps working if the store network changes or goes down. The operator keeps one router build, one management platform and a connection it controls.

How to Specify the Cellular Router for an RVM

The cellular router for an RVM should be an industrial 4G router with Ethernet to the controller, a default-deny firewall, VPN support, remote management and an automatic reboot if the connection stalls.

A cellular router is a router that connects local equipment to the internet over a mobile network. 4G carries RVM transaction data and telemetry comfortably. 5G earns its place only if the machine sends large files, such as images for container recognition training, or if the site's 4G performance is poor.

Single SIM or Dual SIM?

A single multi-network SIM is enough for most RVMs, and dual SIM adds protection for sites where any outage is costly. A multi-network SIM is an IoT SIM that can connect to more than one UK mobile network, so it moves to another network if its current one fails at that site. Our UK roaming IoT SIMs work on EE, O2, Three and Vodafone.

A dual SIM router holds two SIMs and uses failover to switch to the second SIM when the first stops passing traffic. Failover is the automatic switch from a failed connection to a backup. A dual SIM, single modem router has a short gap while it switches. A dual modem router keeps both connections live, so the switch has no gap.

Which Interfaces Does the Router Need?

The router needs at least one Ethernet port for the machine's controller, and serial ports only if the machine has older controllers or peripherals. RS232 and RS485 are serial interfaces still found on some industrial controllers and sensors. Our guide to industrial serial interfaces on cellular routers covers them. Turn off Wi-Fi on the router unless the machine uses it, so there is no wireless way in.

Teltonika Router	SIM Slots	Suits
RUT200	One	Compact RVMs with an Ethernet controller and a multi-network SIM
RUT241	One	Compact RVMs where the router has more room in the cabinet
RUT906	Two	RVMs that need dual SIM failover and serial ports, with no Wi-Fi
RUT956	Two	RVMs that need dual SIM failover, serial ports and GNSS location

We also supply routers from Robustel, Ericsson Cradlepoint, Proroute and Milesight. Our full range is on the cellular routers page.

How Should RVM Connectivity Be Secured?

RVM connectivity should be secured in layers, so that the machine is never reachable from the public internet and its transaction data travels only over encrypted or private links.

Firewall: block all inbound traffic by default and allow only the outbound connections the machine needs.
VPN: a virtual private network (VPN) is an encrypted tunnel between the router and the operator's network. Teltonika routers support IPsec, OpenVPN and WireGuard.
Private APN: an access point name (APN) is the gateway a SIM uses to reach a network. A private APN keeps the machine's traffic off the public internet altogether.
Fixed private IP: a fixed private IP address gives each machine a known address inside the private network. We include it when the design uses a VPN.
SIM controls: an IMEI lock stops the SIM working in the wrong device, and SMS and voice barring stop the SIM being used for anything other than data.

We can also run a network-side IPsec link from our core network to the operator's network. Machine traffic then reaches the operator's systems without a VPN on each router. Our IoT SIM security page covers each control in more detail.

Why Does Remote Management Matter for an RVM Fleet?

Remote management matters for an RVM fleet because a site visit to fix a router setting costs far more than the router. Teltonika RMS (Remote Management System) is Teltonika's cloud platform for monitoring routers, changing configuration and updating firmware across a fleet. We help customers set up RMS and tell them when Teltonika publishes a security advisory that affects their routers.

Turn on ping reboot as standard. Ping reboot is a router feature that checks a known address at set intervals and restarts the connection, or the router, if the checks fail. It clears most stalled connections without anyone going to site.

Where Should the Antenna Go on a Reverse Vending Machine?

The antenna on a reverse vending machine should sit outside the metal cabinet, or behind a panel radio signal can pass through, because metal blocks mobile signal.

What We See Most Often

The most common cause of poor connectivity we find on site is a router inside a metal cabinet with its antennas inside too. The router may show some signal, but the connection drops when the store gets busy or the network gets loaded.

Antenna placement is the part of RVM connectivity most likely to go wrong in the field. We see three workable options:

Roof-mounted antenna: a low-profile puck or panel antenna on top of the cabinet, cabled to the router inside.
Embedded antenna: a flat antenna fixed behind a plastic or glass panel in the machine's front or top. Our article on Panorama TF embedded antennas explains how these work.
Remote antenna: an antenna mounted on a nearby wall or window, for machines in back rooms or deep inside large stores.

Connect every antenna port the router has, and test signal quality where the machine will stand, not at the store entrance. RSRP and SINR are the two readings to check. RSRP (reference signal received power) is the strength of the mobile signal, and SINR (signal to interference plus noise ratio) is how clean it is. Our article on why good signal strength does not mean good connectivity explains how to read both. The IoT antennas explained guide covers antenna types and gain.

How Do You Fit Cellular Connectivity to RVMs at Volume?

Cellular connectivity fits RVMs at volume best when routers arrive at the factory ready to fit, so the build line installs a tested unit and does not configure it.

With the scheme starting in October 2027, manufacturers and operators will build and install many machines in a short window. Our router staging service prepares each router before it reaches your line:

Agree the ConfigurationWe work through a Configuration Form with you, so the settings match how the machine connects.
Load Firmware and SettingsWe load the latest firmware and configure the router to your specification, including failover and ping reboot.
Fit the SIMsWe fit the IoT SIMs and check each router connects to the network.
Test the AntennasWe test-fit the antennas before dispatch for compatibility.
Enrol in Remote ManagementWe enrol routers in RMS when it is part of the rollout specification.
Label, Record and PackWe label each unit, record which SIM went into which router and pack kits ready for the line.

On the SIM side, data pools let a fleet share one data allowance, so a busy machine does not run over while a quiet one sits under. Usage thresholds can suspend a SIM automatically if its use looks wrong, and APIs let your own platform manage SIMs directly. For machines built in the UK for other countries, our global roaming IoT SIMs give access to more than 600 networks in more than 180 countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Reverse Vending Machine Need an Internet Connection?

A reverse vending machine in the UK deposit return scheme needs a connection to the scheme's systems. Exchange for Change includes connectivity with scheme systems in its certification requirements, so a machine cannot join the scheme without it. The connection carries transaction records and updates to the list of eligible containers. Most machines also use it for operator alerts and remote support.

How Much Mobile Data Does a Reverse Vending Machine Use?

The mobile data a reverse vending machine uses depends on its software rather than on the number of containers it takes. Transaction records and alerts are small. Software updates, product list downloads and any images the machine uploads use far more. We size the data plan from a pilot machine and use a data pool so the fleet shares one allowance.

Does a Reverse Vending Machine Need 5G?

A reverse vending machine does not need 5G for transaction data, alerts or remote support, which 4G carries comfortably. 5G is worth considering if the machine uploads large image files, if 4G performance at the site is poor, or if you want the hardware to stay current for longer. A good antenna position usually matters more than the choice between 4G and 5G.

Which Mobile Network Works Best for Reverse Vending Machines?

No single mobile network works best for reverse vending machines across the UK, because indoor coverage varies from one store to the next. A multi-network IoT SIM connects to EE, O2, Three or Vodafone, depending on which works at that site. That lets one SIM type serve the whole estate, instead of a survey and a network choice for each store.

Does a Reverse Vending Machine Need a Private APN?

A reverse vending machine does not always need a private APN, but it is the strongest way to keep transaction data off the public internet. A private APN routes the SIM's traffic straight into a private network. Many operators use a VPN on the router instead, or combine the two. The right choice depends on how the operator's back office and the scheme connection are designed.

Can a Reverse Vending Machine Run on the Store's Wi-Fi?

A reverse vending machine can run on a store's Wi-Fi, but we do not recommend it. Store and guest Wi-Fi networks change without notice, often need a sign-in page and are controlled by the retailer rather than the operator. A cellular router with a multi-network IoT SIM gives the machine its own connection, managed the same way in every store.

Talk to Us About RVM Connectivity

If you are specifying connectivity for reverse vending machines ahead of the October 2027 launch, we can help you choose the cellular router, IoT SIM and antenna, and supply them ready to fit. Speak to our team about your machine and your rollout plan.

Contact Millbeck

Millbeck. IoT Connectivity